You can carry a 1911 A1 in three different levels.

1: Loaded, not chambered, hammer down.

2. Loaded, chambered, hammer down.

3. Loaded, chambered, hammer back, safety on. Anything else is not safe.

Drawing a weapon, moving your hands to the clap at "3", using the thumb to dis-engage the weapons safety while placing hand together is still the preferred meathod, position "4", Fire.

The weapon can be fired with one hand, between "2" and '3", target not acquired, but pointing in the right direction, still makes a big hole in a bad guy.

Shoulder harness, (weapon under-arm pointing back), does not carry well, with hammer back, safety on. That's whay "Miami Vice" Sonny always armed his weapon before he entered a room, (but it made for great TV action). When carried on hip, weapon armed, with safety on, allowed for weapon to be carried "in the ready", or "Condition 1".

Not a big fan of Glocks, can not release hammer in safe manner.

I'll take a .45 ACP in Colt, Kimber, or Springfield anyday.

FYI - bullet two follows bullet one in same hole. Bullet three is off just slightly, but you'd need a mircometer to read the difference, but that's just me.

I took out the stock captive spring and put in the Wolf 17# (factory) and went and shot an IDPA comp and it worked just fine. I will say that I got a lot of exercise putting in the Wolf spring, running around all over the den looking for where it went to when it SPROINGED out of my hand several times. Captive springs is a really good idea.

So I ordered 5 boxes of Serra itsy tennsy weennsy 90 grain JHPs and loaded them up at the minimum load in the Sierra manual , which is 1100 fps, and went off to the range today. Of course they would not cycle with the 17# spring but 48 in a row cycled with the 14# spring. The cases only get thrown about 6 inches so I suspect when cold weather gets here that the 14# spring will not cycle them, if the bullets are cold. But the kit came with a 12# spring so I'm GTG.

The interesting thing was that with really low loads and light recoil you could see the affects of improper grip pressure on the pistol by where the bullet would strike on the target. If your left thumb puts too much pressure on the frame the bullet strikes to the right and if you grip wrong with your right hand you pull the bullet left.

I also tested out some military brass that I had removed the crimp from and loaded up to +P and it all cycled well with the 17# spring. I would say that in some other thread somebody, perhaps Longrange, said that removing the crimp from brass is just not worth the trouble and that is just about the honest gospel truth - you only save pennies and it is a real pain in the fourth point of contact.

Funny thing of interest to anybody local, is that the only other person at the range was a guy from Bethesda. He was a doc from a local hospital who wanted to practice shooting his 375 Mag from shooting sticks for his upcoming trip to South Africa. The Green Ridge range, which is an hour and a half drive from DC, is about the only place without a range safety officer where you can practice fast draws and lateral movements and as long as everyone is aware you can actually get in front of the firing line and shoot in the dirt. He and I had a good time breaking all of the range safety rules.

Attacked by Aspens
 

It was archery season in Utah and after lunch I was sitting around camp really bored when all of the sudden I was attacked by a large grove of aspens. Fortunately, I had my G34 handy and a couple of magazines of different bullets. So after all the powder smoke cleared I went and inspected the damage.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Microcys.../0/69cc3igN7OU

I own the Glock 23 Gen 4 in .40 cal. The Gen 4 in addition to back strap-changeable feature to help dial in the grip better, also has dual captivated recoil spring which helps a bit with the slightly more snappy recoil of the high pressure .40 round. Glocks are among the most, if not the most, widely issued and carried by LEO's today.


Nothing wrong with a Glock. Really nothing I can see terribly wrong with any of them.


I also own the XD in a .40 and shoot the crap out of it. It has tritium Tru-Glo's which I like a lot both day and night and they are reasonably priced. Also featured are a REALLY bright tac light and count 'em, two lasers. One green and one red. Naturally green works both in daylight and limited viz. Red primarily for limited viz. Yeah, it's a real Christmas tree effect around my place....:rolleyes: This set up, intended primarily for interior home defensive situations, sits on my night stand and is one of my main home defense guns. There's also a Glock with a similar set up.


Why two lasers? Redundancy and my near sight vision has gotten bad enough now to where I really need glasses to get a good sight picture.


If I wake up suddenly... forget it.... it takes time for my bleary eyes to focus as well as they are going to and that's not good enough to get a sharp sight picture without the glasses.


Some people hate anything on their gun and want it clean. I shoot with everything on it and train that way.


Of course if all else fails, (you can't count on anything with batteries) I'm still an on-target instinctive shooter at home interior engagement ranges.


I don't want to be fumbling for glasses and trying to load mags (that's why my guns stay loaded) if a couple of meth-heads just smashed their way in for a home invasion. Ergo the lasers are my "Disability Rapid Sighting Devices". I am going to look into Lasik to see if it can be done for my particular issue, but I don't know if they can do it for near distance sight correction.


The good part is, not only have the Castle Doctrine laws recently been greatly strengthened in my state, I also live in a redneck county where the juries just about hand out medals to people who successfully defend themselves via their 2nd Amendment rights :D


Next to the XD is a legally converted (back to original AK configuration) Saiga 12 with a 12 round stick mag, collapsible stock, Bubbed up nicely and loaded with a mix of 00, and #4. Spiky wicked breaching brake and rails makes it "look" extra scary. Drum mags are in the safe but I don't anticipate needing one for this application. I own three of those S-12's in my collection. It goes without saying that spare mags are ready and available for all weapons in my particular set up. In the end, strip it all the "scary looking stuff" off and it's still at heart just a very reliable semi-automatic shotgun that racks a round into the chamber just as loud as a pump gun. I don't bother with racking, it stays fully loaded.



I also have a Kahr in PM9 9mm compact with Crimson Trace laser and Tritium sights. It is very lightweight, and has a nice balance. You will likely want the mag-extension if you considered one.


For general shot placement sufficiantly in the KZ, not talking competition shooting, I generally subscribe more to marksmanship fundamentals applied across a broad spectrum of brands and configurations, rather than major differences in accuracy with various handguns... (I know, some will beg to differ)...Ford & Chevy argument....


But with slow, aimed fire, I have hit pretty consistently in the kill zone at 40 yards with the aforementioned little 'ol Kahr. Considering the barrel is just under 3 inches, it might speak to some accuracy differences of the design of this particular weapon which gives me pause to give at least some weighting to design differences and any real accuracy gains over the skills of the individual shooter.


Walthers, Rugers etc. etc. All good. In my book, in the end it generally comes down to the Operator of the particular weapon - all things being equal and assuming you don't have a TOTAL piece of junk handgun that you are counting on and it's mechanically sound.


Bob, I am assuming that you have children in the house or other reasons to not want a loaded weapon on standby. Not even a mag in the weapon as you describe.


For sure, to each their own and to each their own comfort level and your personal reasons are just as valid as others who may may differ.


I'm the opposite, no children in the house, no crazy people...:D... and my guns all stay loaded with a round in the chamber. Of course I perform the proper periodic spring and mag maintenance and replace them as required.


That's obviously not suitable for every household situation but plenty of my friends and associates do or have done likewise.


I even known some people, husband and wife as a matter of fact, hubby was SF and his wife was a lawyer - that carry on their hip or shoulder around their house at all times. They for some dumb reason bought a nice big old house in a bad neighborhood. But nobody ever screwed with them. Hi Dave, if you're reading this.


I took my CCW permit course taught by a State Trooper buddy of mine. His whole thing is this: "If you pass the background check, fingerprints and all, and it usually takes about 3 months, then you are "Part Of The Club".


He is totally pro-gun and considers those who legally carry CCW to be part of an "elite" group of citizens and professionals. I think that's a bit of a stretch having seen some of these yokels that shouldn't even own a gun - but I won't discourage his take on it.


Therefore, when he pulls someone over, he already knows if you have a CCW just by running the plates, and that's why he tells you to have your license and CCW permit in your hand with both hands on the wheel when pulled over. Oh, and turn the dome light on at night he says. "Criminals do not do that" in his experience as a Trooper.

What's different about this particular LEO is that he will give a mild "lecture" to those who are NOT, repeat NOT carrying if they have a CCW! Along the lines of "What good is it having the CCW if you are not going to carry religiously?" I guess since he has to lug around a gun all the time he wants to share the misery. :D How cool of a cop is that?


His take on it is, someday he might need you, me or another citizen to help him out, back him up or save HIS life! But anyway, I'm getting off topic here with the bit on CCW.


Regular Guy Said:

"Sir,
I +1 everyone on the Glock, I love them. But that H&K is the Lexus of handguns IMHO. I own the same one, just in the .45 version. The smoothest firing .45 I have ever owned, so I would imagine the same or better for a 9 MM. Pretty pricey though,"


Sounds nice. I am very interested in the H&K and have read some pretty good things about it including the smoothness of firing especially in the .45. I need to try one out and if I like it then it will be my next handgun and in a .45

XD-40 good call
 

I have to agree with you Baht Dog. XD-40 is one of the best shooting handguns I've owned. As far as the H&K goes, that was the first handguns I bought (many, many years ago). It was a 22 Mag nice shootiing not sure why I got rid of it.

Actually, and I know some people will want to argue this, there are some fairly close similarities in the ballistics performance between the .40 & 45.
Note I didn't say they were exact, but not MASSIVELY different. At least the data I have compared.


But I'm not going to argue against the Cult of The Forty Five (CFF), So, "OK, you CFF guys win.... .45 is the best!" :D I love 'em too, except for the fact that they unjustifiably over-price the ammo IMO. For those of us that don't get supplied by Uncle Sugar anymore. Just my .02 cents.

Then there are mag capacity differences between .40 & .45 to weigh in the balance. Some consider the .40 a good compromise of factors. Some say screw anything but a .45 and use phrases like "Real Men Shoot Point Four Five" or "If you need more than X number of rounds, you shouldn't own a gun!," Stuff like that. There is no doubt of the .45's knock down power.

Some maintain there is nothing better than a 12 gauge for home defense.

Regardless, no "round" will keep anyone "safe" in a gunfight. .357 mag is nothing to sneeze at and has seriously effective "knock down" power-wise. .44 Mag is pretty devastating, etc. the list goes on.

When I was a lad I watched a neighbor die from his own careless handling of a .22 pistol. Manged to shoot himself through the heart.

Springfield vs Glock
 

I've had both for years and generaly shot and carry the XD40 more than the Glock. The only thing I don't care much for on the XD, is putting the last two rounds in the mag. It can be a chore without the assist. Personnally I think the xd is more accuate and esaier to strip and clean.

I see no mention of the 'Judge' revolver which would take into account .45 and .410 Shotgun rounds.

It's hard to beat a shotgun for home defense, That said I'd go for both the 870 12 GA and the Glock 23 or 22.

Here ya go. Try a Lula loader. Highly recommended. I have them for both my carbines & rifles in various calibers as well as pistols. They work like a champ.

http://www.maglula.com/

Lula loader
 

Checked out the site, thanks. The XD does come with a mag loader that looks simular to the Lula. It does make it alot easier. The proplem I run into is on the range we have a 5 mag rapid shoot. Shoot 3 mags, relaod 2 and continue. During this phase, loading assist is not allowed.

Well now, that just sucks, doesn't it!? Won't allow a useful tool eh? Nazis! :( :cool: Still, the Lula works a lot better than the stock XD loader BUT, the Lula is more expensive at around $30 bucks by the time you figure in shipping. You might be able to find one in the mid-20s.

I really like serious scientific tests. Now murdering trees? Wait till the tree huggers find this fine scientist.:D:

Any thoughts on the CZ-USA 75B? Comes in 9MM and .40 S&W with an available .22 conversion kit. I haven't seen any negative reviews of the gun on my google-fu, so I thought I would go to the professionals.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/by-category/handguns/

Anyone consider (or fired) a Walther PPS?
 

... I am also considering new personal defense and carry pistols. I like the Walther PPS for its slim width and decent grip on a compact - but no range here (VA Beach) has a PPS to rent. Its also $$$... so was wondering if anyone has any input from their experience on the PPS?

My backup or pocket gun looks like a Ruger LCP .380 (9mm Kurtz) - easier to control too in a tiny frame gun. The LC9 (9mm) sucked to shoot.

"The LC9 sucked to shoot."

Sucked how? My wife can hit the target with hers...:munchin